The Philadelphia Eagles are suffering through one of the worst seasons in recent memory and things aren't getting better anytime soon.
Head coach Andy Reid announced on Monday that rookie quarterback Nick Foles will start for the team at quarterback for the rest of the season, relegating starter Michael Vick to the bench.
Vick has missed the past three weeks with concussion issues and Foles has started in his place. According to ESPN.com, Vick is in the fourth stage of the NFL's five-stage concussion protocol system.
"Today I'm going to name Foles - Nick - the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season," said Reid according to the Washington Post. "Mike is on the fast track so we might be able to get him back this season. No. 1 is his health, most importantly. And No. 2 it gives one of our young players an opportunity to play here the next four games as the starter. Each week he's come in as the replacement guy. Now he is the starter and we'll see how he does with that on his plate."
Reid stated that even if he is healthy enough to play, Vick would not start.
"He was very positive about it. He completely understood. He was on board with it," Reid said to ESPN.com.
Foles threw for 251 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 38-33 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and has started four games this season. He has thrown for 793 yards and two touchdowns to go along with three interceptions and a passer rating of 73.3.
"I think where we're at in the season it gives us an opportunity to play and finish it up," Reid said. "He's playing well enough to where I think he can win football games and I think where we sit at this position in the season it's the right thing to do. And Michael, we've got to make sure he gets healthy."
Foles hasn't lit the NFL on fire, but he has played somewhat better than Vick has. According to ESPN Stats & Information, "Nick Foles hasn't had a turnover in two straight games, something Michael Vick hasn't done since Weeks 9 and 10 in 2010."
He is also is "tied for second in the NFL with 4 interceptions dropped by defenders. If all of those passes were intercepted, he'd have an interception percentage of 5.5, which would easily lead the NFL."
Vick has turned over the ball at an alarming rate with the Eagles, especially this season. The quarterback has committed 14 turnovers in nine games, including nine interceptions. Vick has fumbled the ball 10 times and has lost five of them.
The Eagles have not won a game since October and has lost eight in a row after Sunday's defeat against the Cowboys.
There were some reports last week from ESPN.com that said the team had been "playing politics" with the quarterback position, but head coach Andy Reid denied that notion.
"There's nothing to that,'' Reid said on Friday, according to CBSSports.com. "I don't know where these things get started."
Vick put up MVP-type numbers in 2010, but has appeared to regress in the past two seasons. This year he has passed for 2,165 yards with seven touchdowns while completing just 59 percent of his passes.
In 2010, he threw for 3,018 yards and 21 touchdowns with only six interceptions and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. In the past two seasons he has thrown 23 interceptions.
Vick signed a 6-year, $100 million contract following the 2010 season, but the entire current Eagles situation likely adds up to a new home for the quarterback next season.
The entire organization is in upheaval as they roll through a disastrous season. Reid already fired his defensive coordinator this season and on Monday he fired his Reid fired defensive line coach Jim Washburn.
These moves come one week after releasing Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin, who was claimed on waivers by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Eagles have dealt with numerous injuries this season, including to running back LeSean McCoy and to wide receiver DeSean Jackson.
McCoy suffered a concussion in the team's 31-6 loss to the Washington Redskins three weeks ago in the final two minutes of the game. Reid gave an update on McCoy on Monday, saying that he is in stage three of the five-stage concussion program.
Last year, McCoy was one of the most explosive players in football, rushing for 1,309 yards and 17 touchdowns and added 48 receptions and three touchdowns.
Rookie Bryce Brown has been excellent in his place, rushing for 488 yards and four touchdowns, including a rookie team-record of 178 yards in his first game.
The team also lost wide receiver DeSean Jackson to injured reserve after he suffered a serious rib injury in the loss against the Panthers two weeks ago
Jackson was the leading receiver on the team, making 45 receptions for 700 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games. Before getting injured, Jackson had one catch for nine yards and one rushing attempt against the Panthers.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Jackson is "tied with the Lions' Calvin Johnson for the most 30-yard receptions in the league with 48 since his NFL debut in 2008."
The team also lost offensive lineman Jason Peters to an Achilles injury in the preseason.
